Fire Extinguishers testing is vital because fire extinguishers are the first line of defence in protecting you and your business when a fire occurs. There are dozens of regulations in place to ensure that your fire extinguisher is up to code and working properly, and this ensures the prevention of death and injury. With increasingly rapid changing legislation, it’s difficult to stay abreast of all the different compliancy rules. It’s important to be in touch with a service provider whose job is to do just that.
BCA Fire Standards for Fire Extinguisher Testing
According to the fire standards of the BCA (Building Code of Australia), the following legal regulations for fire extinguisher testing is as follows:
• All fire extinguishers have to be inspected and tested at six monthly intervals in accordance with AS1851 Section 10.
• Fire extinguishers need to be pressure tested and refilled every five years and recharged when an extinguisher is discharged. A licenced cylinder test station should carry out the pressure testing and certification.
Regular Inspecting of Fire Extinguishers
Where circumstances warrant, some fire extinguishers may have to be inspected more frequently. These “special” extinguishers may include extinguishers that are often times found obstructed during monthly inspections or extinguishers located in areas where they are subject to tampering, theft or mechanical injury.
If one of your fire extinguishers is in a spot like this, it’s best to move it, but if that’s impossible, you should take care that this extinguisher is always well maintained. If you are wondering how often fire extinguishers should be inspected, or need to know crucial fire extinguisher testing requirements, contact us at Jim’s Test & Tag.
Jim’s Test & Tag has been a leading expert in this field for 10 years and strives to provide you with the most comprehensive and efficient fire extinguisher testing service.
